There is an interesting story in the Ottawa Citizen about how local councillor Tim Tierney is starting to make some headway in improving cycling infrastructure in the Beacon Hill-Cyrville area in east-end Ottawa.

Basically, he said the area used to be a “black hole” in Ottawa’s cycling network. However, he has been promoting several projects to change things for the better.

For example, there used to be a dangerous gap on Ogilvie Road ( between Blair and Montreal Rd) that was lacking any kind of cycling infrastructure. This was remedied last year with the installation of painted bike lanes and, for a short stretch, a multi-use pathway. Next year, this entire section of Ogilvie Road is suppose to get a new multi-use pathway.

Work on another important cycling infrastructure project for the area will begin later this summer. It will see the installation of a new multi-use pathway on Shefford Road which will link up with the NCC’s pathway along the Ottawa River.

In addition to making it easier for local residents to get around on their bicycles, these projects also fill glaring gaps in the region’s cycling network which benefits everyone. It would be nice if city-wide cycling networks could instantly be implemented overnight, but such infrastructure is usually put in place incrementally by people trying improve the situation in their local communities.

I’ll agree there is some dangerous infrastructure around that area. But, even more so orleans really doesn’t have an infrastructure to get them to downtown. They could though if they put a pathway along side the highway in the field. The pathway could parallel the golf course then merge into the existing pathway near the hill etc…
Amazes me how ottawa builds an infrastructure then it stops. Prime example of this is the Innis overpass which just sucks big time. Lots of debris and not much room to bike.
Barrhaven is bad as well. Riverside south finally got a bike path but the trouble spot is still riverside drive where the bike lane ends and cyclists are forced onto the road. Some are comfortable doing this, but if you are out with a ride with your young family, I’d say not…
Thus, ottawa has it semi-right… in some regards. But, it still has a long way to go to accommodate most communities. We are lucky though to have miles and miles of NCC bike pathways. Someone was smart there.
But, when building suburbs, the first thing they think of mostly is the good ol automobile, not cyclists nor pedestrian nor even the disabled. The pyramid needs to be reversed in this regards. When on the waterways in the world, its the least common denominator that wins (less power). When on the roadway, its the most common denominator that wins (those with power). Why is that?

Anyhow, hopefully some day all suburbs and communities can bring their family for a safe and comfortable bike ride to/from downtown to their community. That’s what a community is really, bringing and allowing all to collaborate and travel seamlessly – there is no better way to see a community than to bike it… get a sense of the people, the planning, the priorities, the culture etc…

The article also mentioned therenovation to Cyrville Road completed last year (bike lanes and multi-use paths all the way from Innes to Ogilvie). The project is a tremendous improvement to a narrow, high traffic route that used to be an accident waiting to happen. It was planned to, and does, provide a much needed link from the east end to cyclists making their way west. The project should be seen as an example of what can be done with a bit of intelligent forethought for cycling safety and convenience. The city should be congratulated. Now, something needs to be done to facilitate crossing the 417 at multiple points for east-west travel. The interchange and bridge over 417 at Innes Rd, for instance, is a potential death trap, a holdover from the days when the automobile reigned supreme in traffic planning.